You improve the property considerably then miss a payment... boom... deed recorded and you've been robbed of your equity.

Quote from @Rob Pattison: I own real estate outside of CA, both in the country and internationally but have chosen to rent in Hermosa Beach due to the high cost to buy a home in coastal southern California.The apartment complex I live in was bought April 1st by an private equity company who gave all the residents a 60 day notice to vacate so they could due a total rehab.   

If this was a long term tenant of more than 2 years, I might not charge anything knowing this just gives me extra time to prep the place for my eventual move back in.

We looked into several projects and eventually, I concluded that there is no real reason for me to reinvent my business, other than "just because".

Here’s my situation.Montgomery AlabamaPurchased my first property for $107k with the intention to rent it out eventually.

This is not true real estate investing - you're investing in an investment promoter who may eventually invest some of what you send him into real estate but you'll have zero control over the investment once you send off the funds.

Because eventually the market will turn around and you'll lose the equity, which is worth way more than the rate and again, is tax free.

Good morning,     I would not want the tenant or yourself to purchase a machine that will need to be serviced and eventually replaced. 

You've learned a valuable lesson that all kinds of people in all kinds of businesses eventually learn......check your spam folder regularly.

I am confident it will change eventually and a part of that will always be city living.